Highlights from World Art Dubai

Fourth season of World Art Dubai shows artworks from more than 300 artists and galleries

This year an assortment of up-and-coming artists and galleries hail from five continents and 25 countries. World Art Dubai is showcasing domestic talent as well as international. Domestic artists comprise approximately 30% of the 300-plus artists and galleries at the fair. The international emerging artists and galleries span from UK to the Peopleâ€™s Republic of Korea (South Korea), Peru to Denmark, and Germany to the USA. In total, more than 4,000 original contemporary artworks fills the fairâ€™s largest-ever space at DWTC, where talent from India and Japan houses their artworks in dedicated national pavilions.

World Art Dubai / Photo by Alma Hodzic / Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

â€œIn a city where major international events are part of the social DNA, World Art Dubai has forged a reputation for offering something truly unique,â€ said Trixie Loh Mirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events, DWTC. â€œThe fair continues to expand every year, which underlines the UAE publicâ€™s unwavering appetite for affordable and accessible art, as well as Dubaiâ€™s standing as one of the worldâ€™s leading cultural and creative hubs.â€

World Art Dubai / Photo by Alma Hodzic / Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

The international galleries include AramÃ© Art Gallery (Lebanon), White Space Gallery (Lebanon), Jackson Events (France), Studio 3 Art Gallery (India), WBC Gallery (India); Mihyo Art Gallery (Korea), Matchboox Gallery (Macedonia) and Boogie Gallery (Russia). As for individual artists, culture vultures can look out for upcoming and established names, including international award-winning artist Shreya Mehta who is debuting her Liquid Tapestries. Other award-winning artists present at this yearâ€™s show include Beatriz Elorza from Spain â€“ winner of Young Masters Alumna (London), Ibero-American Arts Award (London) and The Red Dot Award (New York), as well as French scriptwriter Annik Le Page, who was awarded the Silver Medal of Merit in recognition of her contribution to French art. Mika Yajima is back again this year with a brand-new collection. Utilising a technique from ancient times, and referred to as â€œSprangâ€, artworks are crafted from gold thread made by craftsmen in Kyoto using washi paper and 23.44k gold leaf.

World Art Dubai / Photo by Alma Hodzic / Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Among the individual artists, Martin Lima, a Cannes International Film Festival award winner for Best Swedish Artist and Film Director, is showcasing his multidisciplinary talents at World Art Dubai. For those looking to scrub up on their photography skills, Fu Wenjun from China is introducing his brand-new art style â€“ Digital Pictorial Photography â€“ to Dubai. Integrating traditional Chinese art with the latest digital photography technology, Fuâ€™s works blur the line between photography and paintings. Donâ€™t miss out on Jeff Murray (UK), Leila Kanso (Lebanon), Shazia Imran (Australia), Sheinina Raj (Canada), Gina Plunder (Germany), Manish Sharma (India) and Ernest Donza (Zimbabwe), who are all also very much in the mix.

Representing the UAE art scene, the regionâ€™s galleries include: The Art Cocoon Gallery, Art Plus Gallery, Noon Art Gallery, 5 Art Gallery, Create Hub Gallery and Art Smiley Gallery. UAE-based artists represented at World Art Dubai include Serena Singh, Raja Segar, Ali Al Yaaqubi, Luis Fuentes, Anca Stefanescu, Naima Karim and Kristel Bechara.

World Art Dubai runs from April 18 until April 21, 2018.